2007 Yaris 4dr Hatch

[ellisd87]

So I am buying this in a few weeks. The details are:
2007
4 door hatch
48k KM (30kish miles)

The best part yet.. only $3000!

Now, I've checked out the car, it's a work friend that is moving to the US and it's weird circumstances. Are there things about this specific year/model that I should be aware of before I buy? I've been burned in the past with other cars and trans going on them :( which I want to avoid...

Anyways, let me know!

Hope to be active in the community as I'm a DIYer

[bronsin]

$3000 is awfully cheap for a car with so few miles on it. :eyebulge: I would have this car checked out as throughly as you possibly can. :headbang:

Check underside of hood for coolant pink stains. These water pumps leak. :cry:

Other than that no inheritant issues with this car. :smile:

You are either going to be very happy with your purchase or are going to get screwed with your shorts on. :biggrin:

Cheers and tell us which it is! :iono:

[ellisd87]

Yea I'll have it checked out. I've known the lady for just short of 2 years now. I honestly can't see her knowing something wrong with it without saying anything. She even mentioned to me while I was driving it that sometimes first thing in the morning the transmission won't shift really well until a KM or so into the drive... but what I have read is that's by design to heat up things. She could have not said anything and in her mind, she could have been telling me something was wrong with the transmission.

Also someone pumped into her head light on side, didn't break it but just doesn't set exactly right anymore.

It was pouring rain here when I looked at it, I'm gonna go drive it again next week but she moves on the 13th of June and that's when I get it (her condition on the sale).

Also, she even said if I didn't have the cash it's no worries, I can pay her whenever as she knows I'm good for it haha. Which I am, but still, very trusting.

[Septembersrain]

I'm thinking perhaps the price was given so low because she knows you?
The body work, That's not too big of a deal as long as it's just cosmetic stuff.
If I start up mine (2013/450 miles) and I don't sit for about a minute, It'll do the same thing.
So I am inclined to think it's just that the car is warming itself up.
I'd definitely drive it while it's cold and see if it seems really obvious.
Either way, It seems you could actually buy a whole new transmission and still make good.
That price is very low. The Kelley Blue Book is around $8-10K for that model here.

Good luck!

[CTScott]

That is an awesome deal, especially with it being a 5 door. If I ran into one like that for that cheap, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. There is nothing on these cars that is really expensive to repair (other than body damage).

[ellisd87]

Well this is all very encouraging. I'm in an awkward situation now as two good deals just came up yesterday and I bought both lawl.

So yea, committed to buying the yaris, won't have it until June 13th (part of the reason it's cheaper as she needs it up till the time she goes to the airport to move).

Also bought a 2012 Focus Titanium with 10k KM's on it for 13k less than a equivalent 2013 right now so I jumped on both.

Either way I now have 4 cars between me and my wife and that isn't going to go over well and need to decide what to sell.

For anyone in the wintery states or in Canada, how is this thing in the winter? I realize I will need to get some winter tires, but it performs ok? Feel safe?

[bronsin]

I'm gonna go drive it again next week but she moves on the 13th of June and that's when I get it (her condition on the sale).

Price ~$6k below blue book + lady makes condition of sale the day she leaves town (so if something later on is bad shes out of there) = LOOK OUT!

Like I said either you will be :biggrin: or :cry:!

[Septembersrain]

Well this is all very encouraging. I'm in an awkward situation now as two good deals just came up yesterday and I bought both lawl.

So yea, committed to buying the yaris, won't have it until June 13th (part of the reason it's cheaper as she needs it up till the time she goes to the airport to move).

Also bought a 2012 Focus Titanium with 10k KM's on it for 13k less than a equivalent 2013 right now so I jumped on both.

Either way I now have 4 cars between me and my wife and that isn't going to go over well and need to decide what to sell.

For anyone in the wintery states or in Canada, how is this thing in the winter? I realize I will need to get some winter tires, but it performs ok? Feel safe?

I do need to warn you on the Focus. It's got some massive issues with the transmission.
I don't know if it's got the same parts here as where you are but it's a huge problem around here.
I think with the Yaris, The tires make the car.

Here is a link about the issue with the Focus.
http://www.lemonlaw.com/wordpress/ford-focus-transmission-problem/

It's one of the reasons why I ended up not wanting to risk buying a new Ford Focus.
The other one is that they are constantly using new engines and transmissions in their cars.
To me that's them throwing unproved/untested variations out there and using us drivers as guinea pigs!
Not to mention it's known that they have a pretty low reliability score right now.. Lower than Kia and that's just sad. :barf:

[ellisd87]

Yea for sure. I'm hesitant about it as well but we'll see. I took it for a drive and while the trans feels different, I know how those automatic manual transmissions feel (drive a smart car once in a while with car2go here) and it feels exactly the same. I will have to try the hill thing though once I get it as I dont think I went up any hills on my test drive like that.

Maybe they will recall once enough people have complained. THe problem I find with the internet is that let's say there is an issue with 10% of the cars out there, there is probably 90% of those 10% posting about their trannies where the remaining 90% of people maybe only 5% post since there is no issue. Everyone uses the internet to complain lol. But thanks for the site, I'll keep my eye out on it.

[Septembersrain]

You're welcome. I wouldn't have known about that issue either if my cousin hadn't gone through it herself. 13 trips to the dealership and they still haven't fixed it.
She almost got into a bad wreck because of it too. =[

I like that with the Yaris it's giving me something that's already been tested and proven.
Ford is too easy with jumping onto the new technology bandwagon before it's time.

Either way, If they do a recall, At least you'll be able to have it fixed on their dime! :clap:

[ellisd87]

Yea, now I'm worried, I could potentially back out of the deal I think. At least it has 4 more years of powertrain warranty... but still damn 13 trips to the dealership over the same issue? What have they tried?

[Septembersrain]

First, They did some "Trouble shooting" which I think meant they were doing something with the computer. Then they did that again about 5 more times.
They began replacing components on the car, Like the computer and some other random parts they said would "Fix it".
They ended up putting in a new transmission, Which started having the same problem less than 2 months later.
Three months ago she traded it back in, and left with a used Dodge Avenger (She hated Ford so much she bought a different brand from that Ford dealership. LOL).

What good is a warranty though if the car itself is bad? It's not like having coverage will help keep it out of the shop.
Sure you aren't paying to fix it but you ARE paying with the time that it'll consume as it sits in their garage with them scratching their heads at it!

[ellisd87]

How many miles did she start seeing issues? And when did she get rid of it finally? I got so worried I went back down there to test drive it once again without my fiancee in my ear. Took it on some long drives, no issues but yea that could happen whenever.

[WeeYari]

Sweet deal at $3K.

2007 Possible issues:

- ABS wheel sensors
- voltage regulator corrossion in the alternator
- water pump failure
- lower control arm bolts

Discussions on these are easily found with a search. None of these issues should scare you away from the deal you have presented to you.

[Septembersrain]

How many miles did she start seeing issues? And when did she get rid of it finally? I got so worried I went back down there to test drive it once again without my fiancee in my ear. Took it on some long drives, no issues but yea that could happen whenever.

She started having the trouble at around 29K miles.
Thing is, At first it wasn't that noticeable.
Then at around 31K miles it got positively downright horrific.
So that's when she started the back and forth with the dealership.
She had gone back and forth with them for almost 6 months before giving up.
Told me that it happened a lot after stop and go driving in the city where we live.

I'm not saying it'll happen to you but... I know the Yaris is a good deal and if anything is wrong, I'd think it would be easier to fix.
That Focus, It has newer technology and I'd just be a bit more careful with it.
I always question why people sell their cars if they've got low miles and are relatively new....

[nookandcrannycar]

Sweet deal at $3K.

2007 Possible issues:

- ABS wheel sensors
- voltage regulator corrossion in the alternator
- water pump failure
- lower control arm bolts

Discussions on these are easily found with a search. None of these issues should scare you away from the deal you have presented to you.

Just out of curiosity, did all 2007 Canadian Yarii have ABS ?

[nookandcrannycar]

Price ~$6k below blue book + lady makes condition of sale the day she leaves town (so if something later on is bad shes out of there) = LOOK OUT!

:bellyroll:....you and I must have the same microchip loaded with cynicism and grains of salt located 'somewhere within'.

[ellisd87]

Sweet deal at $3K.

2007 Possible issues:

- ABS wheel sensors
- voltage regulator corrossion in the alternator
- water pump failure
- lower control arm bolts

Discussions on these are easily found with a search. None of these issues should scare you away from the deal you have presented to you.

Sounds good. I'll check out what I can next week when I see the car again, but you're right nothing should be too crazy that it still wouldn't be a good deal.

[ellisd87]

Price ~$6k below blue book + lady makes condition of sale the day she leaves town (so if something later on is bad shes out of there) = LOOK OUT!

Like I said either you will be :biggrin: or :cry:!

Lol well she said just pay her half then the rest in a few months when she comes back to do a few last errands in August. If she was trying to dart I dont think she would say that... haha

[ellisd87]

Took a look at the car again before committing to buy (not a very big chance I wouldn't still take it). Either way, here is a pic below.

There are some scuffs around the corners, little spot above that one wheel there, no leaks underneath that I can see, etc.

Anyone happen to know what colour code this is?
http://i.imgur.com/DzOkgab.jpg

[CTScott]

Anyone happen to know what colour code this is?


3P0 - Absolutely Red

[yarisugi]

What's that?

[edmscan]

What's that?

Block heater cord.

[bronsin]

In winter my heater cord hangs out too. I get all kinds of "Is that a hybrid/electric?" questions.

If times get tough maybe I will sell it to someone like that! :biggrin:

Just put a lampcord poking thru the grill and go into mass production. :biggrin:

[ellisd87]

3P0 - Absolutely Red

Thank you my good fellow.

And yea, just a block heater cord.

Here are pics of the two more noticeable things (but fixable).

http://i.imgur.com/SZ72Cow.jpg

This thing can pop out, but if I put it back in, it stayed in there for most of the drive, nothing that some glue can't fix!
http://i.imgur.com/a6ToYAv.jpg

[CTScott]

I am not sure how their shipping is to Canada, but AutomotiveTouchup.com has the best prices that I have found on perfect OEM color match paint in various forms (touch-up pens, 12oz spray cans, quart cans, etc.)

[ellisd87]

What would you suggest for what you see here? And it's kind of a pain to ship into Canada but I have a mule in Washington that comes up once in a while haha.

[CTScott]

What would you suggest for what you see here? And it's kind of a pain to ship into Canada but I have a mule in Washington that comes up once in a while haha.

With how little the car is costing you, you probably don't want to sink a load of money into having the bumper and fenders professionally repainted. If you have any experience with painting, it is easy enough to shoot the fenders and bumper yourself.

I purchased the red one in my signature picture with some front end damage and put a new fender, hood and bumper on it and sprayed them myself with rattle cans from automotive touch-up.

[ellisd87]

OK so you just used the spray cans then eh? You did the whole bumper and fenders though? Would it be easy to just stray the bad areas or is it gonna look like poop anyways?

[CTScott]

OK so you just used the spray cans then eh? You did the whole bumper and fenders though? Would it be easy to just stray the bad areas or is it gonna look like poop anyways?

With my painting skill level I find it hard to blend large spots, so I just shoot the whole area. Both the fenders and bumper are easy to remove, so you can even do it off the car. For the bumper you really want to use the plastic adhesion promoter that they sell as well. Their clear coat is also a great match for the OEM clear coat.

[thebarber]

You sure its not orange?

And no, not all 07's had ABS

[ellisd87]

It does look somewhat orange yes, not sure which colour code that would be as nothing indicates that for 2007.

[CTScott]

It does look somewhat orange yes, not sure which colour code that would be as nothing indicates that for 2007.

In the picture with the side market light hanging, it definitely looks to be red (3P0), but in the picture above it, it looks a little like the copper orange mica. To be sure, look at the VIN tag on the driver's door frame and it will list the color code.

[ellisd87]

Ah perfect thanks for the tip. I will check it out Thursday when I pick it up.

I'm not too concerned, we are going to give it to my fiancee's mother as she needs a new small car. It will be good for her and we don't absolutely need it lol. But it would be nice to give it to her in a bit better shape on the outside

[nookandcrannycar]

it's kind of a pain to ship into Canada

This is the understatement of the year :biggrin:. A thoroughly wonderful country, just not re trying to ship packages into it (a package of mail in my case).

[nookandcrannycar]

we are going to give it to my fiancee's mother as she needs a new small car.

:thumbsup: Smart man.